After Super Bowl 59 concludes the next major event on the NFL calendar is free agency, and with that comes players recruiting new pieces to their team. Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James hasn’t been shy about persuading receiver Tee Higgins, and he’s now turned his sites to a former teammate.
Derwin James Responds to Keenan Allen in Recruitment Pitch
The All-Pro safety recently made waves with comments on “The Edge” podcast hosted by Cowboys star Micah Parsons. James said, “Hey what’s up, Tee? Tee or any receiver out there what’s up? What’s happening… Let’s go do it.”
Higgins would be a great fit on a Los Angeles team lacking a game-changing receiving threat. However, James likely won’t be the last player to comment on Higgins’ status as a free agent. Higgins is expected to be a hot commodity once free agency begins, as PFN’s No. 1-ranked free agent. With several teams in need of a WR1, a bidding war for Higgins’ services is to be expected.
Higgins has been one of the best WR2s in the NFL over his five-year career with the Cincinnati Bengals. In that time, he has accumulated 4,595 receiving yards (18th across the NFL during that span). He also has two 1,000-yard seasons under his belt and two more where he finished with 900+ receiving yards.
If Higgins were to sign with the Chargers, he would immediately become the No. 1 option. It is no secret the Chargers will be all over the wide receiver market come free agency, and James is also hoping for a reunion with former Charger teammate Keenan Allen.
what @DerwinJames said pic.twitter.com/VHNZCmfLBE
— marv (@chargermarv) February 3, 2025
James responded to an Allen tweet with, “@keenan13allen bring yo ass back too.” It’s a not-so-subtle way of telling the receiver and Los Angeles management that he wants his teammate back.
Allen was a Charger for his first 11 seasons in the NFL before being traded to Chicago in 2024. He was brought in as a veteran presence in a receiver room with DJ Moore and rookie Rome Odunze. Allen had a promising 2023, catching 70 balls for 1,243 yards and seven scores, but he could not improve those numbers with the Bears.
He totaled 744 yards on 70 receptions and seven touchdowns in 15 games in Chicago and is now testing free agency. Allen has a long injury history, but he’s one of the more productive receivers in the league when healthy. His best season was in 2017 when he had 102 receptions for 1,393 yards and six scores. He was named Comeback Player of the Year in that season after tearing his ACL in Week 1 of 2016.
In his career, Allen has hauled in 994 receptions for 11,610 yards and 69 touchdowns. He has gas left in the tank, and reuniting with James and Justin Herbert in Los Angeles would make the Chargers contenders in the AFC West.